TWO MORE ARRIVE AT THE SHOWGROUNDS

Ballymena United tonight announced the signings of Adam Lecky and Ryan Mayse bringing the number of new faces to The Showgrounds to eight.

Lecky joins on a three-year deal following his return to Northern Ireland after a 15-month spell in Australia with Victoria League side St. Kilda Celts.

Formerly with Ballinamallard United before his departure down under in January 2017, Lecky expressed his delight in joining the Sky Blues.

"It's very clear to me that Ballymena is very much an ambitious club with aspirations to win silverware this season. The chance to work with such a successful management team who have won it all in the local game was too good to pass up and I am hoping that they can help me become a better player.

"The hunger and motivation to progress and win medals considering the success they've already enjoyed is remarkable and matches my own aspirations.

"The signings already announced show the direction the club is moving. They have added quality, experienced players who are at a good age to go on and help the team achieve its goals over the next number of years."

Mayse, a former team-mate of Lecky's at the Mallards, joins from Dungannon Swifts on a one-year deal.

The 24-year-old midfielder was, of course, a member of the Swifts panel that defeated United in the most recent League Cup final, scoring twice in the first half.

By his own admission, Ryan didn't need much persuasion to make the move to Ballymena once David Jeffrey's interest became clear.

"David rang me and I came down here for a chat. I spoke to him and Bryan (McLaughlin) and heard and saw what was happening here - in all honesty my mind was made up after the first five or ten minutes after I arrived.

"David and Bryan have ambitions and I have ambitions as a player and so hopefully together we can meet them.

"I want to help the club move forward and challenge for more trophies. Personally, I want to get in and make and score more goals, if I can do that then it goes towards getting the team up the league table and hopefully will lead to more trophies."